November Fishing-drum, drum, & more drum
A trophy Black Drum caught on an artificial shrimp while cruising the flats.
Fall is in the air in Destin, Florida and this can be one of the best months for fishing! While there are always plenty of snapper and other fish to be caught on our nearshore trips, most of the fish we will catch have to be released due to seasons being closed. There are usually still a few king mackerel hanging around and Mingo snapper are here year-round for the taking. But my favorite fishing this time of year is inshore, Redfish are near the end of their spawn, and you can find them in large schools cruising the bay looking for an easy meal. The trout are also in a transition to find their winter home, and before it gets too cold, they will be active on the grass flats in a lot of the same areas you will find Redfish.
Fiesty fall Redfish caught on the grass flats in 2 feet of water!
Black drum also become active in the fall and winter months in the panhandle. In my opinion, these are the most underrated drum in the family, the slot size is 14-24’’ and you don’t want to keep one larger than that. These fish are delicious when they are smaller and, in the slot, but they can get up to 50lbs in our region, when they get this big, they are old prehistoric looking fish and are also full of worms, so not ideal for the dinner plate. While eating the “big ugly” isn’t high on the to do list, catching one should be, these are bruisers and pull as hard as any fish in the bay and you can catch them in many different places. They eat crustaceans, so when targeting them specifically we will use large shrimp or crabs and fish bridges and docks. Catching a large black drum should be on your bucket list and will make memories to last a lifetime!
A perfect eating size black drum caught on a live shrimp fishing docks in the intracoastal.
FUN FACT: Did you know that Redfish (Red drum), Speckled Trout, and Black Drum are all part of the drum family? Many people think Speckled Trout are part of the trout family, but they are indeed brothers of the not so similar black drum and Redfish!
A beautiful Choctawhatchee Bay Speckled Trout caught on live pilchards.
